Protesters Gather For ‘Fight For $15’ On Tax Day Eve

DENVER (CBS4) – Hundreds of people marched in protest across Denver on Thursday afternoon, traditionally tax day eve, beginning at the McDonald’s fast food restaurant near Evans Avenue and Colorado Boulevard.

It’s part of the Fight For $15 rally, intended to continue efforts to raise the minimum wage and fight what labor organizers call corporate tax avoidance.

One woman at the protest Thursday morning shared her personal experience with living on minimum wage.

“I am a home healthcare provider in Grand Junction and I only make $8.31 an hour. It makes it even hard to go through and pay your bills and then get fuel in your vehicle to make it to your clients’ house to make sure that they are okay. It would be nice to be able to pay all the bills and still get fuel for work itself,” said Jasmin King.

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Last year protests in Denver blocked streets and interrupted fast food service at some restaurants.

This year the only difference is an expected increase in attendance, as well as the target of the protests — organizers say they are specifically targeting McDonald’s because of its size and influence it may have on pay practices across the country.

McDonald’s told the Associated Press that despite the Fight For $15 protests, they will continue to provide exceptional service, and they also noted that in regards to its employees, the company provides exceptional lifelong skills, opportunities for advancement, and educational assistance.

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As many as 80 people had already arrived at the McDonald’s on Colorado as of 6:45 a.m. At noon hundreds marched from Civic Center Park to the McDonald’s at 16th Street Mall where protests continued.

This year, the tax day deadline actually falls on Monday, April 18 because the IRS is observing Emancipation Day on April 15 since the actually holiday falls on Saturday, April 16.

Fight For $15 protests were organized in 300 cities across the country, 40 countries around the world and six continents. New York, California and Pennsylvania have already pledged to increase their minimum wage to $15 an hour to be increased over time.